Real Madrid blew a two-goal lead to fall to a 4-2 defeat against Real Sociedad, David Zurutuza scoring twice.
Sergio Ramos and Gareth Bale put Madrid two clear after little more than 10 minutes but the lead evaporated as Los Blancos failed to deal with La Real’s aerial threat.
Ramos netted his first goal of the season with a thumping header from Toni Kroos’ corner before Bale created something from almost nothing to double the lead.
Inigo Martinez netted to keep La Real competitive and Madrid could have been out of sight before Zurutuza levelled with an excellent header to restore parity, Madrid punished for profligacy in attack and an inability to defend crosses.
It got worse for Los Blancos when not long after the hour they went behind for the first time when Zurutuza claimed his second of the night.
And it was worse still when Carlos Vela added a fourth, again from a cross, this time reacting first to a deep corner and hammering past Iker Casillas, Madrid claiming the forward used his arm.
Jagoba Arrasate made three changes from the side that lost in midweek to Krasnodar, while Cristiano Ronaldo was rested due to an accumulation of injuries.
Madrid made most of the early running and were rewarded with Ramos’ goal, some slack marking allowing the centre-back to rise unchallenged.
Ramos nearly made it two with a free-kick but it was Bale who netted the second, dancing past Elustondo and slotting inside the near post.
Madrid were fully deserving of the lead and Karim Benzema, Ramos and Marcelo – twice – had chances to claim a third.
When La Real did fashion an opening, Ramos flung himself in front of the ball to keep out Esteban Granero’s well-hit effort.
The home side came more into the game as the first half went on but still remained vulnerable, Modric blocked by Enaut Zubikarai with pink-shirted Madrid players queueing up.
Sociedad soon won a corner which Xabi Prieto flicked on, Martinez putting the Basques back in it.
They were level by half time thanks to Zurutuza meeting Alberto de la Bella’s sweeping cross, the midfielder’s header from 12 yards having more power than some volleys.
Ramos nearly put Madrid back in front with the last action of the half but the first almost saw La Real in front.
Prieto’s floated cross found Agirretxe but Iker Casillas, perhaps unknowingly, diverted the ball out for a corner.
Agirretxe went close again after nice work from Chori Castro to release de la Bella, the shot from the pull-back deflected over the bar.
Madrid didn’t heed the warning and Zurutuza grabbed his second and La Real’s third after Sergio Canales and Prieto combined, Zurutuza meeting a cross after running off Dani Carvajal.
Sociedad established their two-goal lead when Vela found time in the penalty area from a corner and with the Madrid defence too busy appealing for handball, lashed home.
Sami Khedira nearly reduced the deficit to one with a close-range header, a James Rodriguez drive needed saving and Benzema hit the post, but it wasn’t enough to salvage anything for Carlo Ancelotti’s shellshocked side.
Real Sociedad 2-4 Real Madrid
Ramos 6, Bale 11 (RM), Martinez 35, Zurutuza 40, 64, Vela 75 (RS)
Real Sociedad:Zubikari; Zaldua, Elustondo, Martinez, De la Bella; Prieto (Mikel 82), Granero, Bergara, Zurutuza, Castro (Canales 59); Agirretxe (Vela 59)
Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal (Arbeloa 76), Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Kroos, Modric (Khedira 72), Isco; Bale, Benzema, James
Referee: Juan Martinez Munuera
